Anti-friction bearing



C. N. HOUSE ANTI-FRICTION BEARING May 14, 1957 INVENTOR.

A Zd/Z/me @mi May 14, 1957 c. N. HOUSE 2,792,264

ANTI-FRICTION BEARING Filed July 22, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N V EN TOR.

ANTI-FRICTION BEARlNG Clidord N. House,` Royal: Oak, Mieli.

Application July 22, 1 954, Serial No. 445,127?

8 Claims. (C1. 308-1236) This invention relates to anti-friction,bearinggandl in particular to. means, for retaining the races or. rings of such bearings imposition.

One object ofthis invention is to provide an antitrijtion hearingy having improved1 means for retaining the inner or outer race of the'bearinghin position on theshaft or other element or structure on which it is mounted,

Another Objectis to provide an anti-friction healing of the foregoing character wherein the race or ringv is provided with a groove,V or similar recess in which the retaining means is mounted,. this retaining means conT sisting of a' split ringof Lig-shaped cross-section ora com. posite ring made up ofa plurality ofarcuate segmentsofA U-shaped'` cross-section.

Another object is toV provideI an anti-frictionbearing ofthe foregoing character. wherein the U-shaped' ringlor segments are of resi-lient materialA with outwardly-flared sides so thattheresilient engagementof these sides against the side walls. of' the groove exerts a frictionalI force sufiicient to retard relative rotation. between the race and the ringv or section thereof, the edge of thev ring or seg; ments. thereof gripping the strait ,or bore` in which, the

race, is mounted' so as to preventbothA relative rotation and relative axial motion between the race andthesliaft or bore in'which it is mounted.

Another object isy to provide an antirfrictibn bearing ofthe" foregoing character wherein the cylindrical'lmounting surface, such, as the shaft engaged by the retaining ring or segments of' the bearing race, is itself;` proved Witlr shallow grooves to; receive the. edges of the ring or segments, thereby' further assisting in, preventing relai tive' rotation and; relative axial motion between thebear ingraceA and theV shaft; v

Another' object is; to providel an improvedmacliine for* seating the retaining ringor segments'in their respe'c tive grooves, according tothe` present invention. l

Other objectsy and advantages of the invention'wilfl be! come apparent during the course o the following1 description of' the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a central longitudinalI section, taken'v along the line 1 1v in Figure 2, through ananti-f'r'iction bearing ,equipped with raceretaining means according to the presentinvention, shown in the process ofbeingvinstalled by aV seating machine, also accordingfto'the present invention;

Figurev 2` is a lett-hand side elevation, partly inv section,

along the, line 2 2 in Figure l', of the bearing andseating machine shown therein;

Figure 3 is a cross-Section taken along'the ljine-3v3 in Figure l;

Figure 4 is a` cross-section taken alensthe line4 4'4 in Figure Sthrongh an anti-friction bearingu with its outer and inner races. secured. to a-bore-Y and shait respectively by retaining. means according4 tothe presentinvention;

Figure 5` is a longitudinal section, taken alongf the, line 5-5in Figure 4;:`

Figure 6 is an enlarged. fragrrientaryA View of the Aretaini- 2,792,264 PatentedV May 14, 1957 ingring or segment at the start oi `insertion in the groove of an outer bearing race;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view ofthe retainingringior segment at the start of insertion in the groove of"a n inner Vbearing race; and

FigureSis a diagrammatic view of a device for grooving the4 shaft shown in Figures 1 and 5 Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures l, 2, 5 and show an anti-friction bearing, generally designated 10, havingouter and'V inner races 12 and 14 mounted in an annular space l5 between a bore 16 andthe external cylindrical surface 1S' of a housing 20 and shaft 22 respectively. The housing 20 is shown, for convenience, asa hollow cylindrical member but it Will be understood that the outer surface 24, thereof may be of. any desired shape',Y or that the bore` 16 may be in any kindj of structure, suchk as; an engine crank case, an axle housing, or other mount'in whichthe outer race 12 is to be. secured. Alsoshown somewhat diagrammatically in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is a seating'machine, generally designated 26j, for seating-the outer and inner race retaining. means 28: and 30 respectively intheir respective annular grooves 32 and $4 in the outer and inner races 12 andV 14. The outer race retaining means 28 is inthe formiof'a split ringI of approximately U-shaped` cross-sectionwhereas the. inner race-retainingmeans 30 is in the` forniv of multiple segments 31` of arcuate shape and approximately U-shaped cross section.`

'ljlreouterl and` inner races 12 and 14 are providedfwith the; nsualjannulari ball race'grooves, 36j and` 3:3;` respecf tively, these being of arcuatecross-sectionof, substantially the" same radius as the radii of theanti-friction bearing balls 40 mounted to roll in these grooves 36' and 3 8. re speotiyely. For lsimplication of showing,` the races 12 and 114 are illustrated diagrarnmatically, the mounting of the bearing balls 40 in the races l2 and 14 being conventionall andbeyond the scope of the present invention.

The retaining rings or'segments 23 andv 30, the former beinga single split ring and thev latter being a series of segments;` are of cross-section lyingv between LII-shaped and V'shaped (Figures 6 and 7) in their removed condition. In other words, the retaining rings or segments 28 and 30 1have slightly ared sides. 42er 43 interconnected by a rounded bridge portionl 4,4 or 45, the sides V42, or43 being'flared outwardly relatively to one another. 'Iheoppositeends 46 off the split outer retaining ring 2.8 are spaced apart from one another by a gap, andthe outer diameter of the. ring 23 in its relaxed condition isA normally larger than the diameter of the borel 16 into whichV it ts; Since the ring 28 is ofv resilient material, such as spring steel, it must be forced` into, a smaller diameter, circle'tlran its normal diameter in order to insert it in the`bore. 16, so that when it is released it springs outward,i forcing its edges 4S into rm grippingengagmentwith'the bore 16. The groove 32 is of sufficient depth to permit the ring 28 to enter it freely and is of approximately U-shaped configuration with a rounded bottom surface 52 conforming to the rounded shape of the bridge portion 44 and with parallel side surfaces 54 resiliently engaged by the side portions 42 of the ring 4S asfthey` are' forced into parallelism` against the .side walls 54, as explained below'in connection with the, operation of the invention.

The'retaining segments 31 of the inner race retaining means' are, as previously stated, of arcuate shape and of cross-section between U-shaped andi V-shaped, as described abovel in connection with the outer race retaining ring 28. Each of the segments 31, however, has a smaller nor-mal or relaxed diameter than the diameter o f the bottom portion 56 of Ythegroove 34 inthe inner race 14, the-sides-SS of which'are parallel to one'another- (Figure 7);. Under.. these circumstances, when thesegments' 31 3 are inserted in their respective grooves 34 (Figure 4), their opposite ends 60 must be forced outward so that the segment 31 takes the form of an arc of larger diameter. As a result, therefore, the midportion 62 of each segment serves as a fulcrum engaging the bottom 56 of the groove 34, whereas the corners 64 at the opposite ends thereof dig into the external surface 18 of the shaft 22, namely in axially-spaced shallow grooves 66 formed in the shaft 22 at the location where it is desired to locate the retaining ring 30. As stated before, in its normal or relaxed condition, the sides 43 of the segments 30 are flared outward (Figure 7) so that when they are forced into the groove 34, their sides 43 become parallel and, being of spring material, snugly and frictionally engage the side walls 58 of the groove 34.

The grooves 66 in the shaft 22 may be machined, as in a turning lathe, or they may be rolled into the shaft by the grooving device, generally designated 70, shown in Figure 8. This grooving device 70, which is shown diagrammatically for purposes of simplicity, consists of an approximately J-shaped frame member 72 having an arcuate lower end 74 bored to receive arcuately-spaced axles 76 and 78 carrying grooving wheels 80 and 82 respectively. The frame member 72 also has a straight or shank portion 84 bored to receive a pivot pin 86 upon which is pivotally mounted an arm 88 bored to receive an axle 90 on which a third grooving wheel 92 is mounted, the three grooving wheels 80, 82 and 92 being disposed at approximately 120 apart. The frame 72 is also provided with a perpendicularly bent portion 94 which is disposed substantially at right angles to the straight or shank portion 84 and which is bored and threaded as at 96 in a direction approximately radial to the shaft 22 in position on the grooving wheels 80 and 82, and containing a screw 98 having a handle 100 whereby it may be rotated to engage and force the outer end of the arm 88, and consequently the grooving wheel 92 downward toward the grooving wheels 80 and 82. At the same time, the shaft 22 and grooving device 70 are rotated relatively to one another to pro-duce each of the grooves 76. Optionally the grooving wheels 80, 82 and 92 may be provided with two annular edges spaced axially from one another the same distance as the desired spacing of the grooves 66 so as to roll both grooves 66 into the external surface 18 of the shaft 22 simultaneously.

Retainer seating machine The retainer seating machine 26, whereby the retaining rings 28 or segments 31 are inserted in their respective grooves 32 or 34 is shown diagrammatieally in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and is only one of a number of devices which might be used for this purpose. The machine 26 includes a cross-shaped frame structure 102 with four radial arms 104 having a central handle 106 projecting perpendicularly therefrom. The handle 106 is bored as at 108 (Figure 1) to receive a reciprocating plunger 110 having a socket or cross bore 112 engaged by the lower end f one arm 114 of a bellcrank lever 116. The other arm 118 of the lever 116 is urged outward away from the handle 106 by a leaf spring 120 secured to the handle 106 in such a manner as to normally urge the plunger 116 rearwardly into its bore 108. The lever 116 is pivotally mounted upon a pivot pin 122 which in turn is mounted upon spaced ears 124 rising from the handle 106 adjacent its junction with the arms 104.

The plunger 110 at its free end is provided with spaced ears '125 arranged in pairs 90 degrees apart and each carrymg a pivot pin 126 on which is pivotally mounted -one end of one arm 128 of a bellcrank lever 130. The latter in turn is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 132 supported on ears 134 integral with a slide block 136. The slide block 136, of which there is one for each arm 104, has a guide portion 138 preferably of rectangular crosssection reciprocably mounted in a radial guide bore 140, also preferably of rectangular cross-section. The slide block 136 carries an arcuate inner contact member 142l projecting inwardly therefrom inside the inner race 14, the four arcuate inner contact members 142 engaging the individual segments 31 of the inner race-retaining means 30 (Figure 3). Immediately outward of the arcuate inner contact members 142, the slide blocks 136 are provided with abutment shoulders 144 (Figure 1) which engage the ends of the inner races 14 to push them inward as the segments 31 are expanded into their respective grooves 34.

Each arm 104 and the slide block guide portion 138 are provide-d with aligned bores 146 and 148 respectively slidably receiving a rod 150 having a head 152 mounted on the outer end thereof and extending perpendicularly to the axis thereof. The end of the head 152, which is in the form of an arm, carries an outer contact member 154 adjacent an abutment portion 156 which engages the outer end of the outer bearing race 12 to push it into the bore 16 in the mount 20 as the outer contact member 154 engages the outer retaining ring 28 to force it inwardly into its respective groove 32. The rod 150 in each arm 104 and slide block 136 is reciprocated by means of a pin and slot connection consisting of a pin 158 mounted between ears 160 on the inner end of each rod 150. The pin 158 engages an elongated slot 162 in the other arm 164 of the bellcrank lever 130.

In the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that the space between the shaft 22 and the mount 20 is empty, and that the anti-friction bearing 10 is to be inserted therein, and the race retaining means 28 and 30 installed at the same time by means of the machine 26. The operator inserts a retaining ring 28 in the outer' groove 32 and also the requisite number of retaining segments 31 in the groove 34 in the inner race 14, inserting the anti-friction bearing 10 into the space between the outer and inner contact portions 154 and 142 so as not only to hold the ring 28 and segments 31 in their respective grooves 32 and 34 but also to hold the outer and inner bearing races 12 and 14 against their respective abutments 156 and 144, while grasping the handle 106 and squeezing the bellcrank lever arm 118 toward the handle 106. This action rmly holds the bearing 10 in the machine 26 and at the same time forces the retaining ring 28 and segments 31 into their respective grooves 32 and 34.

When this occurs, the flared sides 42 and 43 of the retaining ymeans 28 and 30 are forced inward (Figures 6 and 7) so as to become parallel with one another and engage the side walls 54 and 58 respectively of the grooves 32 and 34 (Figure 5). In this condition, the retaining means 28 and 32 frictionally engage the side walls 54 and 58 because of the resilient material, such as spring steel, from which the retaining means 28 and 30 are constructed. The lever arm 118 is squeezed suiciently to bring it close enough to the handle 106l in order to push the plunger outward from the bore 108. The consequent motion of the ears 124 transmitted to the bellcrank levers simultaneously causes the slide blocks 136 to move radially outward, while at the same time the rods and their heads 152 move inward. As a result, the inner arcuate contact portions 142 move outward to seat the segments 31 in their grooves 34 while the outer contact portions 154 move radially inward to seat the outer retaining ring 28 in its groove 32 (Figure 1). When the segments 31 and the ring 28 are thus seated in their respective grooves 34 and 32, the bearing 10 can be inserted between thev bore 16 and the shaft outer surface 18 (Figure 1) and slid into the space 15 so that the ring 28 and segments 31 pass into this same space 15. Once the ring 28 and segments 31 have entered the space 15, the machine 26 may be removed by releasing the lever -arm 118, whereupon the spring 120 will cause the plunger 110 to be moved into the bore 108, thereby causing the retaining means engagement portions 154 and 142 to move away from one another and release arrestatie:

theirg grip f upongfthe'- antiifriction bearing 10;", Tll'elatter may then" be pushed' completelyi into` the1 space 115 until thev edgesof the` segments, 3ft drop into the f. grooves 6,6 inftlie shaft ZZfCFigure 5 With the innerrace retainingsegmentsl 31in't11'ei'r posia tions engagingv the shaft grooves, andltlier outerrace- Ietaining ring 28 engaging the bore 1F61 in thel mcunti 20 (Figure-'59, the races 12 and'L 14 ofthe antisfrietionbear; ing are incapable either of rotation orofaxial motion relatively to their respective surfaces 16 and 18 of the mount 20 andshaft' 22 respectively. 'The retaining ring 28 and the retaining segments` 31 byreason of their dissimilarity of radii of curvature to -the spaces intjowhich they -aret tot fit, exert powerful gripping-action on; the: bore 1 6r` and shaft? surface 18 respectively.r so thati undesired relativefmotion is completely, overcome...V

Whatl claim is:

-1. A' race=retaining anti-friction; bearing construction for preventing rotary and axial motion relatively to a generally cylindrical mounting surface, said construction comprising radially-spaced generally outer `and inner annular anti-friction bearing races, a multipli-city of rollable elements of circular cross-section disposed between said races in rolling engagement therewith, at least one of said races having a generally annular recess therein, and 'a discontinuous generally-annular race retainer of generally U-shaped -cross-secti-on having circumferentiallyspaced ends and approximately-radial circumferentiallyextending side llanges disposed in said recess with the edges of said flanges engaging said mounting surface, said retainer being of resilient material with said edges resil-l iently urged into edgewise gripping engagement with said mounting surface.

2. A race-retaining anti-friction bearing construction for preventing rotary and axial motion relatively to a generally cylindrical mounting surface, said construction comprising radially-spaced generally annular outer and inner anti-friction bearing races, a multiplicity of rollable elements of circular cross-section disposed between said races in rolling engagement therewith, at least one of said races having a generally annular recess ltherein, and a discontinuous generally-annular race retainer of generally U-shaped cross-section having circumferentiallyspaced ends and approximately-radial circumferentiallyextending side flanges disposed in said recess with the edges of said flanges engaging said mounting surface, said retainer being of resilient material with said -edges resiliently urged into edgewise gripping engagement with said mounting surface, said side flanges of said retainer being outwardly-flared and disposed wider apart at their free edges before assembly than the width of said recess whereby to resiliently engage the side Walls of said recess.

3. A race-retaining -antifriction bearing construction for preventing rotary and axial motion relatively to a generally cylindrical mounting surface, said construction comprising radially-spaced generally annular outer and inner anti-friction bearing races, a multiplicity of rollable elements of circular cross-section disposed between said races in rolling engagement therewith, at least one of said races having a generally annular recess therein, and a discontinuous generally-annular race retainer of generally U-shaped cross-section having circumferentiallyspaced ends and approximately-radial circumferentiallyextending side llanges disposed in said recess with the edges of said flanges engaging s-aid mounting surface, said retainer being of resilient material with said edges resiliently urged into edgewise gripping engagement with said mounting surface, said retainer having a radius substantially different from the radius of said mounting surface.

4. A race-retaining anti-friction bearing construction for preventing rotary and axial motion relatively to a generally cylindrical mounting surface, said construction comprising radially-spaced generally annular outer and itineranti-:friction Bearing fracas;A 'almuitiplicity oirollabl elements oftcircular-crcss=sectiom disposedl between said races in v rollingengagement therewith, at least oneAL ofisaidv raceseliavingV a generally annular` recess; therein, -andf a discontinuous generally-annular race retainer of genenally U-shaped cross-section having circurnferentiallyspaced endsi and approximately-radial.circumferentially extendingn sidellangesV disposed in said recess withA the edges" of' said flanges engaging said mountingV surface; said" retainer beingof" resilient material with,` said edges resilientlyl urged=`into edgewise grippingengagement with said`` mountingj surface,l said side llanges of saidf retainer beingtfoutwardly-faredf and' disposed wider apa-rt at y theirfi-eet edges before assembly: thanV thel width ofisaidi recess whereby to;resilientlyfengageithetsideawallsfof `said recess; said retainenhavingt afradius substantiallyrdiilerent from the radi-uswof. said,V mounting2 surface;

5f. -An raccfrctaininganti-friction; bearing;v construction for preventing rotary and axial motion relatively to a generally cylindrical mounting surface, said construction comprising radially-spaced generally annular outer and inner anti-friction bearing races, a multiplicity of rollable elements of circular cross-section disposed between said races in rolling engagement therewith, at least one of said races having a generally annular recess therein, and a discontinuous generally-annular race retainer of generally U-shaped cross-section having circumferentially-spaced ends and approximately-radial circumferentially-extending side flanges disposed in said recess with the edges of said flanges engaging said mounting surface, said retainer being of resilient material with s-aid edges resiliently urged into edgewise gripping engagement with said mounting surface, 4said side flanges of said retainer being outwardly-llared 'and disposed wider apart at their free edges before assembly than the width of said recess whereby to resiliently engage the side walls of said recess, said retainer having a radius substantially different from the radius of said mounting surface, said retainer having a gap therein and ends adjacent lsaid gap yieldably gripping said mounting surface.

6. A race-retaining anti-friction bearing construction for preventing rotary and axial motion relatively to a generally cylindrical mounting surface, said construction comprising radially-spaced generally annular `outer and inner anti-friction bearing races, a multiplicity of rollable elements of circular -cross-section disposed between said races in rolling engagement therewith, at least one of said races having a generally annular recess therein, and a discontinuous generally-annular race retainer of generally U-shaped cross-section having circumferentiallyspaced ends and approximately-radial circumferentiallyextending side flanges disposed in said recess with the edges of said flanges engaging said mounting surface, said retainer being of resilient material with said edges resiliently urged into edgewise gripping engagement with said mounting surface, said side flanges of said retainer being outwardly-flared and disposed wider apart at their free edges before assembly than the width of said recess whereby to resiliently engage the side walls of said recess, said retainer having a radius substantially different from the radius of said mounting surface, said recess having a bottom of rounded cross-section and said retainer having a bridge portion of rounded cross-section interconnecting said side flanges and engaging said bottom.

7. A race-retaining `anti-friction bearing construction for preventing rotary and axial motion relatively to a generally cylindrical mounting surface, said construction comprising radially-spaced generally annular outer and inner anti-friction bearing races, a multiplicity -of rollable elements of circular cross-section disposed between said races in rolling engagement therewith, at least one of said races having a generally annular recess therein, and a discontinuous generally-annular race retainer of generally U-shaped cross section having circumferentially-spaced ends and approximately-radial clrcumferentially-extending side fianges'disposed in said recess with the edges of said flanges Aengaging said mounting surface, said retainer being of'resilient material with VsaidA edges resiliently urged intoiedgewise gripping engagement with said mounting surface, said mounting surface having grooves therein spaced apart from one `another at the approximate separati-on of said edges, the tips of said edges entering and grippingly engaging said grooves.

8. A race-retaining anti-friction bearing construction for preventing rotary and axial motion relatively to a generally cylindrical mounting surface, said construction comprising radially-spaced generally annular outer and inner anti-friction bearing races, a multiplicity of rollable elements of circular, cross-section disposed between said races in rolling engagement therewith, at least one of said races having avgenerally lannular recess therein, and a discontinuous generally-annular race retainer including a References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,776,646 Wilson Sept. 23, 1930 2,313,763 Olsen Mar. 16, 1943 2,322,949 Lux June 29, 1943 2,476,586 Darash' July 19, 1949 2,628,113 Jones Feb. 10, 1953 2,650,866 Knudson Sept. l, 1953 

